erk met me in the narrow hall, and there was a mischievous
twinkle in his eye as he said:

"You had better come another day--the old man has just paid that
judgment in the breach of promise case, and he is in a bad way."

Hearing our voices, he said,

"Who is there?--come in."

I went in, and found him sitting leaning on his desk, the picture of
intense wretchedness. He was all unstrung, his jaw fallen, and a most
pitiful face met mine as he looked up and said, in a broken voice,

"Come some other day--I can do no business today; I am very unwell."

He was indeed sick--sick at heart. I felt sorry for him. Pain always
excites my pity, no matter what may be its cause. He was a miser, and
the payment of those thousands of dollars was like tearing him asunder.
He did not mind the jibes of the newspapers, but the loss of the money
was almost killing. He had not set his heart on popularity, but cash.

He had another special trouble, but with a different sort of ending. It
was discovered by a neighbor of his that, by some mismeasurement of the
surveyors, he (Reese) had built the wall of one of his immense business
houses on Front street six inches beyond his own proper line, taking in
just so much of that neighbor's lot. Not being on friendly terms with
Reese, his neighbor made a peremptory demand for the removal of the
wall, or the payment of a heavy price for the ground. Here was misery
for the miser. He writhed in mental agony, and begged for easier terms,
but in vain. His neighbor would not relent. The business men of the
vicinity rather enjoyed the situation, humorously watching the progress
of the affair. It was a case of diamond cut diamond, both parties
bearing the reputation of being hard men to deal with. A day was fixed
for Reese to give a definite answer to his neighbor's demand, with
notice that, in case of his noncompliance, suit against him would be
begun at once. The day came, and with it a remarkable change in Reese's
tone. He sent a short note to his enemy breathing profanity and
defiance.

"What is the matter?" mused the puzzled citizen; "Reese has made some
discovery that makes him think he has the upper-hand, else he would not
talk this way."

And he sat and thought. The instinct of this class of men where money is
involved is like a miracle.

"I have it!" he suddenly exclaimed; "Reese has the same hold on me that
I have on him."

Reese happened to be the owner of another lot adjoining that o